The night sky over Konoha was ablaze with an otherworldly orange glow, the air thick with smoke and the acrid scent of destruction. Team Shisui perched atop a towering tree at the village's outskirts, their eyes wide as they surveyed the apocalyptic scene before them. The once-peaceful village now lay in ruins, buildings toppled like children's blocks, fires raging unchecked through the streets.
Shisui's normally cheerful face was set in grim determination, his Sharingan blazing as he assessed the situation. Beside him, Itachi stood unnaturally still, his own Sharingan spinning slowly as he fought to maintain his composure. Naoki, his face pale but resolute, clenched his fists at his sides.
They exchanged a wordless glance, years of training and friendship allowing them to communicate without speaking. Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together, as shinobi of the Hidden Leaf.
Just as they prepared to leap into the fray, a blinding flash erupted at the village's edge, followed by a deafening boom that shook the very air around them. When the light faded, the monstrous form of the Nine-Tails had vanished.
Naoki's eyes widened in realization. "That must have been Minato-niisan," he breathed, his voice a mix of awe and worry. "He's teleported the Nine-Tails away from the village to minimize the damage."
Shisui nodded sharply, his curly hair ruffling in the wind. "Good thinking. Kushina-sama is likely with him. We should head there and offer whatever assistance we can."
Without hesitation, the trio darted towards the explosion's origin, their forms blurring with speed. However, as they neared the site, an invisible force halted their progress, like running into a wall of solid air.
Shisui's hand met the barrier with a crackle of energy. "Damn it!" he hissed, frustration evident in his usually calm demeanour. "Naoki, you're familiar with Kushina-sama's techniques. What are we dealing with here?"
Naoki approached the barrier, his brow furrowed in concentration as he examined the shimmering chains of energy running through it. His heart sank as he recognized the jutsu.
"It's an Adamantine Barrier," he explained, his voice tight. "Created by Kushina-neesan's Adamantine Sealing Chains. It's... it's practically impenetrable." He swallowed hard, fear creeping into his voice. "For her to use this now, preventing anyone from entering... it can't be good."
Shisui's eyes narrowed, his mind racing through possibilities. "Naoki," he said, his voice carrying the weight of authority, "has Kushina-sama ever taught you how to bypass this barrier?"
Naoki hesitated, uncertainty plain on his face. "There is a method," he admitted slowly, "but I've never successfully performed it before."
Shisui placed a reassuring hand on Naoki's shoulder, his eyes softening for a moment. "I believe in you, Naoki-kun. If anyone can do this, it's you." He turned to Itachi, his voice regaining its edge of command. "Itachi, I need you to return to the village. Find Fugaku-sama and bring him here immediately."
As Itachi prepared to depart, Naoki called out, his voice urgent. "Tell Uncle Fugaku this could be a matter of life and death. Even if he has to disobey orders, he needs to come. And... and bring Tsunade-neesan if you can find her."
Itachi nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. In a flash, he was gone, racing back towards the chaos of the village.
Naoki took a deep breath, centring himself as he recalled Kushina's lessons. He could almost hear her voice guiding him, feel the warmth of her hand on his as she demonstrated the technique. With a burst of chakra, his Adamantine Sealing Chains erupted from his back, four gleaming links of pure energy.
His hands flew through a complex series of signs, each one precise and deliberate. As he completed the sequence, he pressed his palms to the barrier and called out, his voice ringing with determination:
"Uzumaki Secret Technique: Barrier Opening Formation!"
A blinding flash erupted from the point of contact, and for a heart-stopping moment, nothing seemed to happen. Then, slowly, a tiny opening appeared in the barrier, no larger than a pebble.
Gritting his teeth, Naoki poured more chakra into the technique. The opening widened incrementally, but it wasn't enough. Sweat beaded on his brow as he pushed harder, tapping into reserves of power he didn't know he possessed.
The air around them began to swirl, debris lifting from the ground as Naoki's chakra output reached staggering levels. Shisui was forced to retreat, bracing himself against the maelstrom of energy emanating from his young student.
Finally, with a sound like shattering glass, the opening expanded enough for a person to pass through. Naoki's voice, strained with effort, cut through the howling wind. "Shisui! Go through now! I can't... I can't hold it much longer!"
Shisui didn't hesitate, using his Body Flicker Technique to dart through the opening. With a final surge of chakra, Naoki widened the gap further and stumbled through himself before collapsing to his knees, gasping for breath.
Shisui was at his side in an instant, concern evident in his voice. "Naoki-kun, are you alright? That jutsu seemed to take a heavy toll."
Naoki nodded weakly, his chest heaving. "I'm okay," he panted. "But that... that took almost 70% of my chakra."
Shisui's eyes widened in shock, knowing full well the vast reserves Naoki possessed. "That much?! Are you sure you can continue?"
Naoki pushed himself to his feet, determination burning in his eyes despite his exhaustion. "I have to," he said firmly. "There's still enough left. We need to find Kushina-neesan and Minato-niisan."
Inside the barrier, unaware of the approaching reinforcements, a heart-wrenching scene was unfolding. Kushina Uzumaki, her vibrant red hair dulled with exhaustion, stood alongside her husband, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze. Before them loomed the terrifying form of the Nine-Tailed Fox, barely restrained by Kushina's chakra chains.
Kushina's violet eyes, usually so full of life, were clouded with pain and sorrow as she looked at Minato. "Are we really going to seal the fox inside Naruto?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "You know what that means, don't you? The village... they'll hate him. He'll be alone."
Minato's face was a mask of anguish, torn between his duty as Hokage and his love as a father. "We have no choice, Kushina," he said softly, his voice heavy with regret. "It's the only way to protect the village. But I believe in the people of Konoha. They'll see Naruto for the hero he is, not as the demon he contains." A small, sad smile touched his lips. "And he'll have Naoki. His big brother will always be there for him."
Kushina felt a bittersweet pang at the mention of Naoki, knowing she would never see the boys grow up together. With a heavy heart, she nodded. "Alright," she whispered. "Let's do it."
Minato steeled himself, preparing to perform the Reaper Death Seal. But in that moment of distraction, the Nine-Tails saw its opportunity. With a speed belying its massive size, it lashed out with one razor-sharp claw, aiming directly for the tiny form of baby Naruto sleeping peacefully in his cradle.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl. Minato and Kushina's eyes widened in horror as they realized what was happening. Without a moment's hesitation, they threw themselves forward, their bodies moving on pure instinct to shield their newborn son.
"NARUTO!" Their voices rang out in unison, filled with desperation and love.
A/N: Hi guys, make sure you guys give powerstones as thats my main source of motivation.